Malcolm Edwin Johnson, age 86, passed away Monday, May 21, 2007, at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO. Malcolm was born in Cheyenne County, Nebraska on September 12, 1920 at the family farm home. He was the second of three children born to Frank Arthur Johnson and Zella Ray Johnson.


Malcolm attended grade school at a country school in Cheyenne County, Nebraska and high school in Sidney, Nebraska. At age 16, Malcolm began managing the family farm when his father passed away.


In 1942 Malcolm enlisted in the United States Army. He was in the Army Signal Air Corp when he met Julienne Youngren in Kansas City, Missouri in 1943. Malcolm and Julie were married at the Post Chapel in Fresno, California on August 12, 1944. They lived in Fresno for five months together before he was sent to Hawaii for a year. When Malcolm returned from his tour of duty, with an Honorable Discharge in 1946, Malcolm and Julie moved to Los Angeles, California where they lived for seven years. Their daughter Patricia was born June 25, 1951 in Los Angeles.


In 1952 Malcolm and Julie bought their farm in Cheyenne County, Colorado. There they built a life together, farming and ranching for 40 years. They raised wheat and Black Angus cattle. In 1990 Malcolm and Julie built their retirement home in Kit Carson, Colorado, so they could be close to their grandchildren and the school they attended. Malcolm and Julie were married for 62 years. They enjoyed going to town at least once a week to eat out, shop and spend time together.


Malcolm also actively participated in Farmers Union by attending many meetings and conferences. He participated in the Washington D.C. Farmers Union fly-In as a representative. Malcolm also held many different offices over the years in the Cheyenne County Farmers Union.


Malcolm was appointed to the Colorado State Fair Commissions Board by Governor Lamm, where he served a term of five years as a Commissioner.


Malcolm and Julie were very dedicated to attending church together. They attended Baptist churches, Church of God and Methodist churches. Malcolm also served on the United Methodist Church Board in Stratton, Colorado. He valued his faith in God and accepted Jesus Christ as Savior as a young man.


Malcolm also loved his family unconditionally. Malcolm especially enjoyed spending time with his daughter Patricia Mitchek and her husband Jim Mitchek and their five children, Angela, Nathaniel, Rachel, Joshua, and Andrew. Holidays, birthdays, vacations, farm shows, school sports and music events, and weekly pinochle nights were regularly spent with his beloved family.


Malcolms hobbies included taking steam train excursions, stamp collecting, reading books on the military, and enjoying the beauty of nature and wildlife.


Survivors include Malcolms wife Julie of Kit Carson; his daughter Patricia Mitchek and her husband Jim of Kit Carson; granddaughter Angela Stone and her husband Randy and their children Daisy and Jaylen of Flagler, Colorado; grandson Nathaniel Mitchek and his wife Holly and their children Trenton, Miranda and Stockton of Eads, Colorado; granddaughter Rachel Mitchek of Cleveland, Tennessee; grandson Joshua Mitchek and his wife Tara and their son Hunter of Hugo, Colorado; grandson Andrew Mitchek of Kit Carson; sister Zelle Belle Schmale of Sidney, NE; brother Arthur Johnson and his wife Marcie of Porterville, CA; nephews and nieces; and other relatives and friends. Malcolm was preceded in death by his father and mother.


Services for Malcolm were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 25, 2007 at the Methodist Church in Kit Carson, Colorado. Rev. Michael Ingersoll and Rev. Burry Bessee officiated. Granddaughter Rachel shared special grandfather memories. Soloist and guitarist, Aaron Skaggs sang How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. Pall bearers were grandsons Nathaniel Mitchek, Joshua Mitchek, and Andrew Mitchek; great-grandson Trenton Mitchek; grandson-in-law Randy Stone, and friend Aaron Skaggs. Graveside services followed at the Kit Carson Cemetery. Malcolm was given Military Honors and a twenty-one gun salute by the Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells and Eads VFW. Taps were then played on the trumpet in honor of Malcolm and his service to his country. The American Flag, covering the casket, was ceremoniously folded and presented by the VFW to Malcolms widow Julie Johnson. The spent shells of the twenty-one gun salute were presented by the VFW to Malcolms daughter Patricia Mitchek.


Memorial donations may be made to the Malcolm Johnson Memorial Fund at the Kit Carson State Bank in Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells or Burlington, Colorado. The memorial fund will be donated to the Kit Carson School music and sports programs, in memory of the many school events Malcolm enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in.